North Cook News

Oak Park River Forest (OPRF) School Superintendent Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams recently assured those in attendance at a special board meeting that school officials are still doing all they can to keep students ahead of the curve in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

“Last year, ISBE waived certain required courses,” Pruitt-Adams said. “We proceeded with grading as usual this year. We have what’s called an NC grade. The other option we have is to waive the summer school fee for students.” 

 The issue of grades and what seniors need to graduate has become a hot-button issue around OPRF since members of ROYAL (Revolutionary Oak Park Youth Action League), which has students at the school, requested that grading policies for the second semester be changed to account for the pandemic and the negative effects it has had on student learning.

In addition to a no-fail policy, ROYAL is seeking a commitment from the school board that includes assuring that all students will receive credit for their current classes, all seniors at the school will work with ROYAL toward gaining Bridge Cash Scholarship Pandemic Assistance, a guarantee that students be given credit for taking part in mental health and healing activities and a vow “ROYAL shall be given the power to implement recommendations and hold OPRFHS accountable for learning through the COVID19 pandemic and the U.S. racial violence pandemic.”

School officials countered by insisting they are doing all they can to make learning accessible to all students. Officials said they have “deliberately enhanced our academic and social-emotional supports in an effort to ensure that all students, particularly those who struggled, have had equitable access to learning.”

Pruitt-Adams isn’t the only member of the board expressing concerns.

“As a team we’ve spent a lot of time discussing the requests in front of us,” said board member Greg Johnson. “This has been an incredibly challenging and trying year, particularly for black and brown students because of a host of factors. When it comes down to it, the focus we’ve had as a school district has really been aimed at doing our best to have a safe environment for our students. Allowing students to move forward without demonstrating learning — the real reason we exist as an institution — is something that is hard for our team to do.”